A committee has given its support to a campaign group which hopes to bring a traffic-free route between Clevedon and Yatton.

The transport and highways committee of Clevedon Town Council gave its unanimous support to the Clevedon Environment Forum for the cycle path – which will provide a safe, car-free route for leisurely riding as well as commuting to and from school and work.

The route will provide access to the Strawberry Line as well as Yatton Railway Station from Clevedon.

The town relies on buses and the motorway as its main transport links with the closest stations being Yatton and Nailsea and Backwell.

The forum is planning to meet with the Strawberry Line Society, who is hoping to create a continuous 30-mile traffic-free path from Clevedon to Shepton Mallet, in the coming months.

The Strawberry Line.

They will work with the society to create a publicity campaign including a dedicated website and will seek to create a steering group to ensure the path is built.

Geoff Richardson, from the forum, said: “The support from Clevedon Town Council will add another dimension to our campaign, increasing the pressure on North Somerset Council to act.

“This path will provide an environmentally friendly way for the people of Clevedon to access the Strawberry Line for leisure, to commute from Yatton station without the need to drive, as well as bringing business to Clevedon’s cafés and cycle shops.

“The forum will continue to look at other important routes such as the coastal path to Weston.”

Clevedon previously had a 3.5-mile line installed by the Bristol and Exeter Railway in 1847 which connected the Strawberry Line, train route at Yatton.

After 116 years of service, the route was closed in 1963, 23 years after the closure of the Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Light Railway.

The Strawberry Line was then transformed into a cycle path and at present extends down as far as Cheddar.

The forum meets once a month to discuss ways to make its ambitions a reality.

If you would like to find out more about the forum or to follow its progress, visit www.clevedon environmentforum.wordpress.com